Macular degeneration, sometimes mistakenly (or jokingly) called 'immaculate degeneration,' is a condition that affects the macula, the central part of the retina. When the macula is damaged, the eye loses the ability to see detail clearly in the center of the field of vision. The earlier it is detected and treated, the better the chances are of limiting the damage. There are new drugs on the market that are being tested with a high degree of success, so if you suspect you or someone you know may have it, see an eye doctor as soon as possible. Good luck.
Macular degenerative disease is a general term for many different conditions that affect the macula. The macula is found in the back of the eye and is part of the retina that is responsible for our straight ahead vision as well as color and sharp, detailed vision. Just like the name implies, the cone cells in the macula as well as layers of the retina begin to degenerate. Food, nutrients and oxygen have trouble getting to the macula and waste products have trouble getting out of the macula. The combination of both of these leads to cone cells working less optimally and leads to many of them dying. Cone cells are necessary photoreceptor cells that are essential for our straight ahead vision. There are many different broad categories of macular degenerative disease some affecting mostly the senior population while others can affect young teens and adults.
Let' s start with the macula. The macula is a tiny spot in the center of the retina - at the back of the eye. It is responsible for our straight ahead vision and our sharp, detailed vision. The type of vision needed to drive, read or to recognize faces. As we age the delivery system of getting oxygen and nutrients to the macula and getting rid of toxins and built up waste stops functioning effectively. Waste products build up and nutrients and oxygen are not delivered to the macula. As a result the layers of the retina are affected as well as the photoreceptor cells - the cone cells. As these cells
degenerate or die, there is less of them. With less cone cells one's vision becomes affected - vision is blurry, colors are less vivid, and the center of your vision may have a cloud or gray spot that obscures what you see.
Dry macular degeneration progresses slowly and becomes more common as we age.
Macular degeneration is an eye condition that affects the retina - the back of the eye. The macula is a small spot in the center of the retina that is responsible for our crisp, sharp detailed vision and for our straight ahead vision. When some of the photoreceptor cells in the macula start to die or degenerate, a person experiences different types of vision changes. Colors are less vivid, vision is not as sharp, more light is needed to read or perform hobbies, and for more advanced stages there is a loss of central vision. A person may see a smudge or a gray or black spot as they look straight ahead. Side vision or peripheral vision is not affected.
Macular Degeneration or Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a condition that blurs central vision. This happens when the macula, which is the portion of the eye responsible for clear & sharp vision gets damaged due to aging or other factors.
AMD is a common & leading cause of vision impairment in older adults. Although it may not cause blindness, it can affect your ability to read, see faces, drive, and do work like cooking or fixing things around your house.
The speed of degeneration varies & can occur very slowly in some people, and much faster in others.
Early AMD may not cause vision loss. It is important to have regular eye examinations to determine if you have AMD.
Sanjeevan Netralaya has treated thousands of patients with Macular Degeneration effectively with Advanced Ayurvedic Treatment that causes absolutely no side effects.
Sure, I'd be happy to help you understand what Macular Degeneration is in simple terms! Imagine your eye as a camera β it has a lens that focuses images on the back wall, which is called the retina. The center of the retina, like the camera's most important part, is called the macula. Now, let's break down Macular Degeneration:
The macula is responsible for sharp, central vision that helps us read, recognize faces, and see fine details.
It's like the bullseye of the eye's target, capturing all the important details of what you're looking at.
Macular Degeneration is an eye condition where the macula gets damaged.
It's like having a smudge on the camera lens β the images you see become blurry or distorted.
Dry Macular Degeneration:
The cells in the macula thin out or break down over time.
Think of it like the macula losing some of its pixels, making the picture quality worse gradually.
Wet Macular Degeneration:
Blood vessels grow abnormally under the macula, leaking fluid and causing damage.
Imagine water seeping under the camera's lens β it messes up the image and can happen quickly.
Straight lines might appear wavy or distorted.
Dark or empty spaces might appear in your central vision.
Reading becomes difficult, and you might struggle to recognize faces.
Age is a big factor β older people are more likely to develop Macular Degeneration.
Smoking, family history, and high blood pressure can increase the risk.
It's like certain conditions that make a camera lens more prone to smudges.
Eating a healthy diet with leafy greens and fish can help.
Protect your eyes from UV light by wearing sunglasses.
Regular eye check-ups can catch any issues early.
Treatments like injections can help slow down Wet Macular Degeneration.
Remember, Macular Degeneration is a bit like wearing down the camera lens of your eye. But with healthy habits and early detection, you can take steps to keep your sight clear and sharp. If you notice any changes in your vision, it's always a good idea to see an eye doctor for guidance.
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Macular degeneration
Osteoporosis.
what is the name of the kind of doctor who specializes in eye disease,i.e. macular degeneration?
Macular Degeneration can be a genetic condition, although it isn't always the case. 50% of people who develop this disease have relatives who suffer from it, whereas 12% of people with macular degeneration did not have a relative with the disease. To find more information, you can research wikipedia, webmd, or healthwise. All have many pages worth of useful information.
If it's a round blurry spot in your vision, it could be, depending on your age, a harmless floater, or the start of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is a disease of the elderly.
A generic term for a disease of the retina that is not inflammatory in nature is retinopathy. Some examples include retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, epiretinal membrane (macular pucker), retinal tear, macular hole, or age-related macular degeneration. Inflammatory diseases are called retinitis. A retinal detachment is one example or a retinopathy.
Macular degeneration
Its very rare to be born Macular Degenerate.. My mam has Macular Degeneration and my sister is Macular Dystrophy. Also my mams siblings have been diagnosed Macular Degenerate 1 brother and 7 sisters. Quite a few of their children my cousins have been diagnosed with this degenerate disease too, unfortunately some of my cousins children have also been diagnosed. It is a hereditary disease, so i too also worry about my children. I have two, so far they are not showing any signs. The chances of having the gene and passing it are high, genes can switch on and off like a light switch... you might just get lucky :)
Symptoms for macular degeneration develop gradually. Some of signs of the disease are printed words appearing blurry more often, crooked central vision, colors appearing duller than normal, and more.
Macular degeneration is a vision problem that produces symptoms that include straight lines that appear wavy or distorted, formation of drusen, a dark spot or area at the center of your vision, and changes in color perception. Macular degeneration is a disease of the macula in the retina. A drusen is a yellow or white deposits found in a retina layer.
People with diabetes, Best's disease and those who have had previous eye injuries are at higher risk for macular holes in their eyes. The National Eye Institute has a lot of information on the subject, including symptoms to look out for.
A fundus exam also will be performed to check for retinal holes, and macular degeneration and disease.